This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, June 18, 2009 - Nixon's announcement that he supports a massive public-works program may be aimed, in part, at softening the budget-cut blows that are about to come.
Wednesday afternoon, the governor's office released a copy of a letter that he sent to all 197 members of the state Legislature.
The letter says, in part:
"I am asking for your thoughtful help and input in developing a consensus financial approach to putting a capital investment plan before the voters that is both forward-looking and true to our shared commitment not to raise taxes.."
Nixon went on to note that:
"Congress has made funds available to cut dramatically Missouri's capital investment costs under the Build America Bond program. If we act quickly enough to qualify, the federal government will pay 35% of those costs. This program offers ... an unprecedented opportunity to invest in Missouri's future in a fiscally prudent way..."
The proposal comes as Nixon is just about to whack at least $100 million out of this year's fiscal budget, which ends on June 30, and much larger amounts from the budget recently approved by the Legislature for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Nixon's cuts are expected to include some of the capital-improvement projects, using federal stimulus money, that the Legislature also approved in May.
Wednesday's letter appears to be aimed at offering to legislators an alternative method to finance the projects that he's about to cut, and that they support.
Nixon communications director Jack Cardetti said the governor's capital-improvement proposal would require approval by the Legislature, as well as a statewide vote. Cardetti said the last major state public-works effort was during now-Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond's tenure as governor (1973-77 and 1981-85).
Nixon is currently talking to legislative leaders to see if they are receptive to the idea, and if a special session might be productive, Cardetti added.
If the Legislature takes swift action, it's unclear when the bond-issue proposal might go before voters. The next scheduled statewide elections are in August and November of 2010. State law allows other elections to be held in February, April and June.
It's possible that a special statewide vote could be set for August or November of this year, although that would incur additional costs for the state and local election officials.
